INSPIRATIONAL STORY: From a Gqeberha bus stop to Spike Lee’s desk, a friendship becomes acclaimed film
Two boys bonded over football at a bus stop in Bluewater Bay in the 1990s, building a friendship across apartheid’s racial divide. Three decades later, their friendship has inspired APART, an animated short film attracting international acclaim, with legendary filmmaker Spike Lee helping bring the story to life.
Two boys, Tim Jones and Lubabalo "Lubhi" Mtati, built a lifelong friendship at a bus stop in Bluewater Bay, Gqeberha, in the 1990s. Despite apartheid's racial divide, their bond was forged over their shared love for football. Three decades later, their story inspired the acclaimed animated short film APART, which has garnered international acclaim and caught the attention of legendary filmmaker Spike Lee.
The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York, has since been selected for several film festivals across North America and is set to make its South African debut at the Fame Short Film Festival in Cape Town later this month. Jones and Mtati, who both studied graphic arts at Nelson Mandela University, wanted to create a story that authentically reflected their experiences growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, avoiding the typical Hollywood portrayal.
When they finally brought their story to life with the help of talented screenwriter Jeff Leisawitz and a team of skilled animators, Spike Lee's involvement added a layer of gravitas to the already powerful narrative. The film's success is a testament to the enduring friendship of Tim Jones and Lubabi Mtati, who have shared their story with the world and continue to inspire others through their work.
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